ACTShttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/
Fri, 18 Aug 2017 02:52:07 +0000FeedCreator 1.7.3http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/images/M_images/ACTShttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/
ACTSMeaningful Words - Familyhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=504:meaningful-words-family&catid=64:home-page-contents
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=504:meaningful-words-family&catid=64:home-page-contents available. It has been written by Lorraine Darlow who works]]>Thu, 03 Oct 2013 06:19:43 +0000Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Higher Education in Scotlandhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=503:asylum-seekers-refugees-and-higher-education-in-scotland&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=503:asylum-seekers-refugees-and-higher-education-in-scotland&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83report from the Scottish Churches' Asylum and Destitution Task Group on the policies and practices of Scotland's Higher and Further Education institutions with regard to the admission to courses of asylum seeker and refugee students.]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2013 06:20:11 +0000CORE Traininghttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=502:core-training&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=502:core-training&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148course in CORE skills for people who work with children in their church. ]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2013 05:50:01 +0000Spirituality and Mental Health - Swimming Pigeonshttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=498:spirituality-and-mental-health-swimming-pigeons&catid=62:artilces&Itemid=94
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=498:spirituality-and-mental-health-swimming-pigeons&catid=62:artilces&Itemid=94Thu, 22 Aug 2013 10:04:00 +0000ACTS Newsletter August 2013http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=495:acts-newsletter-august-2013&catid=64:home-page-contents
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=495:acts-newsletter-august-2013&catid=64:home-page-contentshere]]>Wed, 07 Aug 2013 12:11:34 +0000"Deep Impact" 2014http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=494:qdeep-impactq-2014&catid=64:home-page-contents
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=494:qdeep-impactq-2014&catid=64:home-page-contentsThanks to the support of ACTS’ Members’ Meeting, the Working with Children in the Church Community Core Group is once again able to offer a limited number of grants to help children’s workers, whose own congregations cannot afford to meet the full cost of sending them to “Deep Impact” , to attend the event in January of 2014.

A message from the organisers of "Deep Impact" outlining the benefits to be gained

The third in the series of articles designed to stimulate thought about what matters now in ministry for children in Scotland today has been provided by Richard Knott.

Richard is the Divisional Children’s Officer with the Salvation Army in the West of Scotland region and is currently the Convener of the ecumenical Working with Children in the Church Community Core Group which is associated with ACTS.

If you are “just” a children’s worker in your church community, Richard’s article is for you. You will find it here.

]]>Mon, 29 Jul 2013 06:30:01 +0000Read a Good NEWS Storyhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488:read-a-good-news-story&catid=51:acts-resources
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488:read-a-good-news-story&catid=51:acts-resourcesYou can now read a history of the achievements of the Network of Ecumenical Women in Scotland – normally referred to as “NEWS”. The Network was wound up in 2011 – partly because so many of its aims had been achieved. To make sure that its story was not lost, Lesley Orr, who was at one time the ACTS’ Associate Secretary who worked with NEWS, was asked to put together a brief history of the Network’s activities.

This brief history, entitled “A Good NEWS Story”, has been published by ACTS and has been reviewed by Rev. Mary Buchanan of the United Reformed Church who is a former Convener of ACTS. The history may be freely downloaded by following this link but printed copies are also

In what context do you see your work with children in your church community? In the second of the series designed to stimulate thought in those who work with children in their Church communities, Stephanie Brock sets her work in the context of the Great Commission given by Jesus to his disciples shortly before his Ascension.

Stephanie, as well as being a mother of three, is the Children and Family Ministry Advisor to the Scottish Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. She is not a member of the Working with Children in the Church Community Core Group but

]]>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:44:45 +0000"Where are we now with children and evangelism?"http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482:qwhere-are-we-now-with-children-and-evangelismq&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=482:qwhere-are-we-now-with-children-and-evangelismq&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148The Consultative Group on Ministry among Children (CGMC) is an ecumenical network of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. It meets at least twice a year in different parts of the United Kingdom to reflect upon good practice in ministry among children and to provide support for those who work with children in their churches.

Martyn Payne, one of the Group's leaders, has prepared this reflective summary on the Conference which was held in Exeter at the end of February. Its title is "Where are we now with children and evangelism?"

]]>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:45:42 +0000Church Leaders' Statementhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480:church-leaders-statement&catid=79:anti-human-trafficking
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=480:church-leaders-statement&catid=79:anti-human-traffickingDavid Livingstone Centre in Blantyre, leaders of nine of Scotland’s Churches put their names to a statement acknowledging the Bicentenary on March 19th of the birth of David Livingstone. In the statement ]]>Tue, 19 Mar 2013 12:38:20 +0000Video of Racial Justice Sunday Service 2012http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=479:video-of-racial-justice-sunday-service-2012&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=479:video-of-racial-justice-sunday-service-2012&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83A Video of this ecumenical Service, which was held in Morningside United Church on September 9th 2012,is now available here. The preacher was Rev. Aftab Gohar of Abbotsgrange Parish Church, Grangemouth. Leaders of Minority Ethnic Christians Together in Scotland (MECTIS) and]]>Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:31:29 +0000"Inherit the Earth" - Review of New CTBI Publicationhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=478:qinherit-the-earthq-review-of-new-ctbi-publication&catid=52:acts-resources
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=478:qinherit-the-earthq-review-of-new-ctbi-publication&catid=52:acts-resources“Inherit the Earth” is a new publication from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. Its author, Barbara Butler examines the progress which has been made towards achieving each of the Millennium Goals which are supposed to be achieved by 2015.

]]>Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:17:17 +0000Easter Resource from ACTShttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=474:easter-2013&catid=51:acts-resources
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=474:easter-2013&catid=51:acts-resourcesEaster Resource from ACTS. This edition has been kindly prepared for us by Revd Lily Twist, Chair of the Methodist Synod in Scotland and is available now. Hard copies ]]>Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:59:30 +0000Ecumenical Service Newshttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=473:ecumenical-service-news&catid=76:conferences&Itemid=133
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=473:ecumenical-service-news&catid=76:conferences&Itemid=133On 20th January a most joyful event took place at St Columba's Church, Gruline - a joint service celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This Service followed the pattern begun last year when a member of each congregation introduced themselves and their church, read a lesson or prayer followed by their chosen hymn sung by the whole congregation. The little church at Gruline was burstine at the seams with a congregation of 80 plus people. Coffee/Tea and biscuits and friendly conversations then followed the formal part of the service. Every church on the island had responded positively to a personal invitation both verbal and written proving beyond doubt there is a strong feeling of Christian Unity alive and well on the Isle of Mull.

On the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, we consider the ecumenical principles and practice expressed in the document; the language and relationships; and some of the hopes, disappointments and achievements. Finding both encouragement and challenge in the document we look particularly at our experience in Scotland today

]]>Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:06:34 +0000Empty Homes to be used for localshttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:empty-homes&catid=83:home&Itemid=37
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=469:empty-homes&catid=83:home&Itemid=37Alastair Cameron, Chief Executive of Scottish Churches Housing Action, reports on a new initiative:

Scottish Churches Housing Action has set up a new charity to provide affordable homes in rural and island settings.

Whitebeam Homes, the new body, will buy properties on the open market and turn them into affordable homes, making a start on the island of Arran. The first homes will be acquired there early in 2013, and efforts are under way to bring in more finance, to allow the approach to be extended elsewhere in Scotland, particularly rural and island settings.

]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2013 09:04:48 +0000Racial Justice Officer's Radio Interviewhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=467:racial-justice-officers-radio-interview&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=467:racial-justice-officers-radio-interview&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83On Sunday 27th January the Scottish Churches Racial Justice Officer, Francis Alao, was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland by Ricky Ross. Speaking both in a personal capacity and as an Office Bearer of Minority Ethnic Christians Together in Scotland (MECTIS), Francis explained why he came to Scotland ]]>Tue, 29 Jan 2013 11:49:59 +0000Meaningful Wordshttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=466:meaningful-words&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=466:meaningful-words&catid=82:working-with-children&Itemid=148The beginning of 2013 sees the start of a new series of brief articles which will be contributed to ACTS' web site by the members of the Working with Children Core Group and which will be designed to stimulate thought in those who work with children in their Church communities. Each article will centre around one word ]]>Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:24:49 +0000"Ecumenism in an Age of Change : Autumn Conference Reporthttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=459:qecumenism-in-an-age-of-change-autumn-conference-report&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=2
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=459:qecumenism-in-an-age-of-change-autumn-conference-report&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=2‘The 2012 Church of Scotland / ACTS Autumn Conference ‘Ecumenism in an Age of Change’ was held in Augustine United Church, Edinburgh on Sat 27 Oct. This was a particularly enjoyable day with over 80 ecumenical enthusiasts gathering to share fellowship, experience and good practice.

The key speaker was Natasha Klukach, Programme Executive of the World Council of Churches, who spoke of ‘Belonging to a Global Network’. Natasha presented a clear eyed view of the major ecumenical issues and initiatives of our time, including preparations and hopes for the 2013 WCC Assembly in Busan, South Korea. Her presentation led to lively discussion and left the group encouraged and inspired.

Three examples of significant local ecumenical initiatives were also presented. These were the Annandale and Eskdale Learning Agreement between the Church of Scotland and Scottish Episcopal Church; the partnership of Falkirk Churches with Schuren, Westphalia, Germany; and, the community action of PACT (Perth Action of Churches Together). A final presentation by Scottish Friends of Ecumenism shared their vision of wider ecumenical engagement ‘beyond Church structures’.It was good to see so many friends – old and young – engaging so animatedly together on the day. Many thanks to all the presenters, participants and planners. All in all it was one of the most successful autumn conferences in years.

]]>Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:28:28 +0000Reflections for Advent 2012 - Together Towards Lifehttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458:reflections-for-advent-2012-together-towards-life&catid=51:acts-resources
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458:reflections-for-advent-2012-together-towards-life&catid=51:acts-resourcesThis year’s resources for Advent have been prepared by Revd. Lindsey Sanderson, formerly Assistant General Secretary of ACTS and now a parish minister serving two congregations in East Kilbride. Under the general title of ‘TOGETHER TOWARDS LIFE’ Lindsey has prepared four short reflections on themes from meeting in Manila of the World Council of Churches’ Commission on World Mission and Evangelism which Lindsey attended in March.]]>Wed, 31 Oct 2012 08:08:52 +0000Togther August 2012http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=452:together-august-2012&catid=52:acts-resources
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=452:together-august-2012&catid=52:acts-resourcesThe august edition of ACTS Newsletter is now avaiable to read or download.In this edition:Racial Justcie Sundaythe Autumn Conference 2012Scottish Friends of EcumenismWorking with Children Conferences

If you would like to recieve a hard copy of the newsletter, please contact Shona Paterson.

]]>Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:47:29 +0000Racial Justice Sunday Service 2012http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=451:racial-justice-sunday-service-2012&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=451:racial-justice-sunday-service-2012&catid=45:racial-justice-news&Itemid=83Scotland’s national ecumenical Racial Justice Sunday Service, held in Morningside United Church during the evening of September 9th, was attended by approximately 200 people.

Leaders of Scotland’s long established Churches joined with leaders of the emerging churches of Minority Ethnic Christians Together in Scotland (MECTIS) in leading the worship. Prayers were read by John Humphreys, Moderator of the Synod of Scotland of the United Reformed Church, Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien of the Roman Catholic Church, who made special mention of the newly launched Edinburgh chapter of MECTIS, and by Bishop John Armes of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Bible lessons were read by Rev. Francis Alao, Secretary of MECTIS, and by Mrs. Eileen Baxendale, Treasurer of MECTIS.

Rev. Aftab Gohar, Convener of Asian Concern Scotland and minister of Abbotsgrange Parish Church in Grangemouth, preached on the theme of “Growing Together in Faith”.

The praise in the Service featured traditional hymns, spirited pieces from the Scotland African Choir and a hymn featuring a chorus in Urdu which was led by a group formed of members from the Scottish Asian Christian Fellowship and Asian Concern Edinburgh.

At the close of the Service, food prepared by the catering group of MECTIS, was served in the hall and the opportunity to share in friendly fellowship was taken by the majority of the congregation.

Throughout his ministry, Archbishop Conti has sought to build bridges and establish friendships with Christians of different traditions. He has taken to heart the Church’s call to unity and worked tirelessly to overcome historic divisions and foster a spirit of ecumenism in Scotland. Among those who have worked most closely with him is Very Rev SHEILAGH KESTING, Ecumenical Relations Officer for the Church of Scotland and former Moderator of the General Assembly

I remember the first time I met Archbishop Mario. It was in the car park in Southwaite service station.

I was on a minibus that had set off from Edinburgh at some early hour of the morning. He was on another that had left Glasgow at a similar hour.

The rendezvous allowed the Scottish delegation of church people, ordained and lay, young and not so young, to progress in convoy to Liverpool and the inauguration of the Council of Churches in Britain and Ireland, now Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) – a memorable occasion, not least because of the walk along Hope Street, from the Anglican to the Metropolitan Cathedral.

It was to be the first of many encounters, for Archbishop Mario made the involvement of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland in CTBI and Action of Churches Together in Scotland a priority.

As the first Convener of ACTS we got to know him well as he helped the fledgling organisation find its feet. In CTBI we often made common cause, voices from Scotland in a body so easily dominated by the English experience.

He brought immense experience of international ecumenism from his time on the Vatican’s Ecumenical Commission from where he became co-moderator of the Joint Working Group between the Vatican and the World Council of Churches.

He was determined to root the international conversations in the concrete reality of our Scottish context. Scotland could be an ecumenical laboratory. And he was quick to feed back into the international bodies our lived experience of ecumenical relations here in Scotland and in Britain and Ireland.

He became ‘our Archbishop’, a source of national pride, when he led the Roman Catholic delegation to the World Council of Churches Assembly in Porto Alegre in 2006.

Above all, we appreciated his international experience in the Joint Commission on Doctrine between the Church of Scotland and the Roman Catholic Church which he co-chaired since 1993.

It was with his encouragement that the Joint Commission focused on Baptism, a study that was to lead to the production of the Liturgy for the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, a landmark text which has been used to good effect in ecumenical services since 2010.

The liturgy was used in St Giles, as together our two churches and the Scottish Episcopal Church marked the 450th anniversary of the Reformation in Scotland.

It is inconceivable that we could have done this together even 20 years ago and is a mark of how our local ecumenical engagement here is Scotland was enriched by a wider ecumenism.

It was Archbishop Mario who introduced the custom – long familiar to international bilateral dialogues – of beginning each meeting with a catch up of what had been occupying each of our churches since the last meeting.

This also became the space where we could feel free to bring up more sensitive issues on which there was sometimes deep disagreement both within and between our churches. We tried to adopt the ecumenical discipline of discussing issues face to face rather than through the pages of the press.

Archbishop Mario was always gracious in his appreciation of the Church of Scotland, attending the General Assembly on a number of occasions and always willing to participate in debates with an openness and honesty, giving encouragement wherever he could. Not that we were always in agreement!

There have been robust exchanges but they never undermined the friendship and respect that had been carefully built up over the years.

He found ways of including representatives of other churches in services. It is now quite usual for the Moderator the General Assembly to give the homily at a service of Vespers, a clear indication that the exchange of pulpits is a two way process.

While we continue to talk about the nature of the Church, it remains the goal of our ecumenical journey that we overcome the division that keeps us apart at Holy Communion, something we know cannot be resolved in Scotland on its own but rather demands the continued relating of local to global, following the example Archbishop Mario has given so ably.

(First printed in 'Flourish' the Journal of the Archdiocese of Glasgow, September 2012. www.flourishnewspaper.co.uk Reproduced with permission.)

Join the National Sponsoring Body for Local Ecumenical Partnerships on Wednesday 12th September in Barrhead for the next of our morning mini-conferences. Our theme is moving on and this is primarily an opportunity to share stories of growth, nurture and development in local ecumenical partnerships, however they are configured.

]]>Sat, 18 Aug 2012 19:24:59 +0000Ecumenical Charity Concert - October 13thhttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=447:ecumenical-charity-concert-october-13th&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=2
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=447:ecumenical-charity-concert-october-13th&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=2The Archdiocese in Glasgow Arts Project is sponsoring a production of Elgar’s “Dream of Gerontius” in the Bute Hall of Glasgow University as part of the Arts in the Autumn 2012 Festival. The performance begins at 19.30 on October 13th.

Four choirs are coming together for the performance – Bearsden Choir; Glasgow University Chapel Choir; Glasgow University Choral Society; and the Choir of the Academy of Sacred Music. The Edinburgh Sinfonia, conducted by Neil Mantle MBE, will provide the orchestral accompaniment. The organ will be played by Morley Whitehead, organist of Morningside Parish Church, Edinburgh, and the soloists will be Matthew Todd, Colette Ruddy and Jon Stainsby.

Tickets cost £10. Accompanied children will be admitted without charge.

]]>Thu, 09 Aug 2012 08:47:46 +0000Autumn Conference 2012http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=445:autumn-conference-2012&catid=67:project-news
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=445:autumn-conference-2012&catid=67:project-newsThe autumn conference is moving!This year the autumn conference run jointly by ACTS and the Church of Scotland Ecumenical Relations Committee is moving to a Saturday. We hope that moving from mid-week to weekend will make it easier for people to attend this annual event which is aimed at people involved in local ecumenism. ]]>Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:29:44 +00002012 Rural Conferencehttp://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443:2012-rural-conference&catid=67:project-news
http://www.acts-scotland.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=443:2012-rural-conference&catid=67:project-newsThe Scottish Churches Rural Group is hosting a conference at the Falkland Estate on Friday 20th July.

The conference is entitled, 'Being at the heart of our Rural Communities' and includes a key note address by Prof. Mark Shucksmith, University of Newcastle as well as presentations about current rural issues and the challenges they present to the churches; and Pilgrim routes as a way for rural communities to reach out.

In this edition you will find news aboutthe churches stand at the royal highland showthe rural conferencethe church leaders' meeting with the First Ministerthe gathering of ecumenical Europe in Edinburghand much more.

To request a hard copy of the newlsetter please contact Shona Paterson